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Four Things We Learned At Monday's Crew Practice

By: Adam Jardy

The Columbus Dispatch - October 07, 2013 02:46 PM

Four things we learned at today’s Crew practice.

1. The extent of Federico Higuain’s hip injury will be known Tuesday.Throughout the Crew’s 1-0 home loss to Sporting Kansas City on Saturday night, Higuain was clearly hobbled by some sort of injury to his right hip. He remained in the game until the final whistle, but he was not at today’s training session at the team’s facility in Obetz.

“He went straight to the doctor this morning to have them take a look at his hip,” interim coach Brian Bliss said. “I really don’t think there’s more to it other than he just got hit and it’s sore and tender. I don’t think there’s any damage there.”

2. The Crew has not yet started making decisions on players for next season.With a new owner still assessing the franchise and Bliss guaranteed nothing beyond this year, plenty of uncertainty surrounds the Crew’s future. Today, Bliss said no conversations have yet taken place on who to bring back and who not to bring back.

“We haven’t had anything in-depth,” Bliss said. “(President and general manager Mark McCullers) has got his own opinion, I’ve got mine, Mike Lapper’s got his own opinion, I’m sure Anthony (Precourt) will have his own opinion when given all the information. As far as sitting down and going over the list and checking them off and saying, ‘Yes, no, maybe,’ we haven’t done that.”

As for his own future, Bliss said he has not yet received feedback on the job he has done. The Crew is 4-2-0 with Bliss at the helm but could be eliminated from postseason contention this weekend.

“Win, loss, draw, I think we’re doing the right things here,” Bliss said. “I think the group is motivated and guys are playing well. We’ve had a player of the week and player of the month. There’s a new sense of urgency and passion from the guys, and I don’t think it’s a short-term thing either. I think this is who we are and who the guys are. In terms of any acknowledgement from Precourt or Mark, we just keep working and hope in the end it all works out.”

3. Chad Barson is one tough dude.Fall arrived overnight in central Ohio, and temperatures were in the 50s with a stiff breeze under cloudy skies this morning. Most players dressed appropriately with warm clothes, but Barson was the only player sporting a sleeveless t-shirt to go with shorts. Saturday’s starters took part in stretching and a passing drill before the rest of the team went through a scrimmage that was watched by the weekend’s starters. Barson remained until the end as several players sought warmer pastures inside the locker room.

Plus, he was sporting a black eye after a nasty collision with Kansas City’s Matt Besler that opened up a bloody gash on Besler’s forehead. Neither player was seriously hurt.

“I’m glad he’s doing well, so that’s good,” Barson said of Besler. “Unfortunately he’s going right to the national team. Never good when you do that, but he’s good, so that’s good to hear.”

4. We might still see Danny O’Rourke this season.The veteran midfielder/defender has missed the last four games with left adductor inflammation, and he has remained questionable on the team’s injury report each week. O’Rourke was full-go for much of last week but had to opt out of drills before Saturday’s game. He did not practice today.

“He trained last week Wednesday, Thursday, Friday all-in and then wasn’t feeling all that great on Saturday when the guys who weren’t in the 18 trained,” Bliss said. “Then he came in this morning and again he still feels very similar to how he did Saturday, so he’s taken off again.”

As for whether he will play in either of the Crew’s remaining games this season, Bliss said, “It’s a possibility.”

O'Rourke has played in 22 games this season, his highest total since 2009 (26 games).